A special “welcome home” ceremony took place at the Des Moines Airbase on Friday for National Guard soldiers returning from a year-long deployment in the Middle East.
The 831st Engineer Vertical Construction Company (EVCC) was federally activated to support U.S. Central Command across a region that included 27 different countries, such as Kuwait, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
This unit was last activated in 2005 during the War on Terrorism.
During their time overseas, the 831st EVCC completed over 50 construction projects and contributed more than 60,000 hours of labor across multiple bases. These projects “enhanced the protection and operational capabilities of U.S. Forces in CENTCOM,” according to a release from the Iowa National Guard.
Due to their work, the unit received over 150 accolades.
The ceremony began shortly after the service members returned home, with leadership, family members, and friends attending to honor those returning.